In Review: DC Showcase: Constantine – The House of Mystery

Synopsis: Warner Bros. Animation continues to glean beloved characters from DC’s robust library for the popular DC Showcase line of animated shorts. This time, they highlight characters as diverse as Constantine, Kamandi, the Losers, and Blue Beetle.

Review: DC Showcase: Constantine – The House of Mystery is a compilation of four shorts. John Constantine is very much the frontman of the band. The other characters serve as his diverse backup singers.

Story

First, Constantine – The House of Mystery is functionally a two-hander between John Constantine and The Spectre. The story highlighted who each of them is at his core.

I loved where the story fell in Constantine’s timeline. I also appreciated the lesson he learned about his own psychology.

Additionally, the macrocosmic visuals supporting The Spectre were complete perfection. Go big, or go home, indeed!

Second, this compilation served as my introduction to Kamandi — The Last Boy on Earth! I found the post-apocalyptic narrative serviceable at best.

The creatures in supporting roles were the highlights for me. Click-Clack was absolutely wonderful!

Third, The Losers were new to me as well. The unit’s dog Pooch was the star for me here. I’d love to see him as an official Super-Pet.

Last, but not least, Blue Beetle was a retro hoot. The music, animation, plotting, and vocal performances harkened back to the 1960s and ’70s. The whole effort was utterly heartwarming.

Acting

Matt Ryan continues to operate on a different level as John Constantine. He gives as close to a method performance as we’ll probably ever encounter in a comic book role.

Also of note, Matt Lanter and Jeff Bennett were pitch-perfect as The Blue Beetle and The Question. They absolutely committed to the nostalgia.

Overall

Thank you, DC, for these compilations. I rent these animated films through V.O.D. Consequently, the portmanteau format is the only way I get to see the short films. Keep them coming.

DC Showcase: Constantine – The House of Mystery is available on DVD, Blu-ray, and V.O.D. now.